Oregon Trip: Part III: God's Beautiful Creation

After the long run with my mom and Harmony following me on their horses, we went home and prepared for our next adventure of the day: a trip to Crater Lake.  Thankfully the government wasn't shut down that week, so we were able to visit this amazing landmark.  Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the U.S. and it was made after a volcano erupted, caused a huge crater, then filled with melted snow, essentially.  Because of the depth of the lake and the purity of the water, I'm completely guessing, this lake is unbelievably blue and beautiful.

When I lived in Central Oregon, I took for granted these amazing natural wonders that were placed all around me. As I was planning my trip, I realized that I missed the beautiful Central Oregon scenery, so I decided I wanted to go visit some of these places.

It is crazy how much in life we can take for granted.  We take so many people in our lives for granted and we also take the beautiful earth that God created for us for granted sometimes.  When we look at the beautiful world we live in, we should really be thinking about how much God loves us, because he created this world for us.  It is not a coincidence that we have gorgeous mountains and trees to look at.  All of the beautiful colors and sights around the world did not come by chance.  It is all for a reason.  Because of this, I want to spend each day in a meaningful way as much as possible and not waste any time, if I can help it.   I need to know what my reason for being in this big, beautiful world is.  Just as God knew the volcano would erupt someday to create Crater Lake, he knows what is erupting in my soul and what will come of it.  It is my job to stay faithful to him and follow his path.  In the proper time, something incredibly beautiful will be the end result.

Oregon Trip, Part II: City Running Vs. Country Running

Since I'm training for a marathon, I had a scheduled long run to do during my vacation in Oregon.  I needed to do at least 10 miles.  My mom loves to ride horses, so it was a perfect opportunity to spend time with her.  She and Harmony rode their horses along side of me while I jogged.  It was a beautiful and sunny Fall day in Central Oregon.  We could see the gorgeous buttes all around us, as well as all of the usual desert plants and rocks.  I couldn't help but compare my city running to this experience of running the country.  First, I must explain that I did not become serious about running until about two years ago, so I didn't spend very much time running in the country when I was growing up. 

There is beautiful scenery to see while running in both the city and country, depending on what kind of person you are.  I am the kind of person who sees beauty in architecture and in artwork that is painted on the outside of buildings.  I love to see stained glass windows on churches and old brick businesses and houses.  I imagine who might of lived in those old houses when they were first built and think about all that may have happened in order to keep that same building standing all of those years. 

While running in the country, you might get to run by a field full of cows chewing on their cud.  If you speak to them, they will turn their heads and acknowledge you, most of the time.  I was a little worried during a shorter run right before this one that I might see a cougar, since cougars are very prevalent in Central Oregon.  Just as I was thinking about what I might do if I saw one, I had to stop and wait for a heard of deer to pass by.  It was incredible!

In the city, you run by "tumble weaves" and in the country, you run by tumble weeds.  They are both a sight to see and they are both a little annoying.  If you are wondering about what a "tumble weave" is, just know that women of all ethnicities wear fake hair (yes, even white women).  Sometimes the hair breaks off at unexpected times or it just flies out of the garbage on a windy day.  That, my friends, is how "tumble weaves" end up flying around on the street.

Both while running in the city and the country I am free to think about whatever it is I want to, and I usually think about how blessed I am to be traveling with my legs in such a way that many people aren't able to do.  I always try to thank God while I'm running so that I never, ever take it for granted.  Regardless of whether I see annoying or beautiful things along the way.

Oregon Trip: Part 1 (The Car Miracle)

My trip to Oregon was truly wonderful.  I loved getting to see most of my family, several close friends and several beautiful natural sites.  It was a short trip, but I had a few very memorable experiences that I will be sharing with you over the next few posts.... 

So here goes.... (this one's for you, mom)....

After spending a fun night at my brother and sister-in-law's house in Portland after flying in on Friday night, we had gotten up early on Saturday morning.  My mom, sister, daughter and I were headed out to the soccer game of the daughter of one of my best friends.  Almost immediately after we started out on the trip from one side of Portland to the next, something underneath the van started rattling.  It sounded like the wheel was about to fall right off and roll down the steep hill we were climbing.  Like many women do (sorry to sound sexist), we stopped the van, got out, looked at the tires, thumped them with our little fingers (as if that was the most accurate diagnostic test) and got right back in the van to call a man--- my dad.  He instructed us to head directly to Les Schwab.  For all of my east coast friends, this is a tire store chain in Oregon in which you can expect for about three guys in tight blue pants and white shirts to come running-literally- out to you to fix whatever is going on with your vehicle.  It is a reliable shop, but, of course, you will pay a pretty penny for the tight pants, I mean, the service.

All joking aside, after calling the shop, we prayed.  We prayed that God would hold the car together until we arrived at the shop, which was a prayer that we said many times during my childhood years. Here is kind of what the prayer sounds like: God, please send your guardian angels to protect this piece of junk (no offense, mom) car and get us to safety!

By the time we arrived, the thumping and clunking was much louder.... BUT we made it. The guy in the tight blue pants and the white shirt said that the wheel was basically unattached from the wheel-holder-together-thingy- oh, the axle.  He could not believe we were able to drive for ANY distance under that condition.   

He didn't know about our guardian car angels, though.  They haven't let us down to this day.

An apology

I have an apology to make.  In my last post "120 years" I wrote that it took Noah 120 years to build the ark.  I have to admit that I came up with this number after reading a world famous preacher's (who shall remain nameless) statement in a book, in which he wrote that this was true.  I believed it because I read it.  Well... after a wonderful friend asked me how I came up with this number, I decided to read the chapters again that describe Noah's building of the ark and here is what I found (Genesis chapters 6 & 7): Noah was 500 years old when his sons were born and 600 years old when the flood came.  Thus, by the time of the flood and the completion of the ark, it had not actually been 120 years.  While I know the whole point of the last post was about faith, I do really want to point out that I was actually wrong about the 120 years part. 

I've been wrong about a lot of things in my life...  One thing that I've especially been wrong about is my lack of actual study of the Bible.  I have spent many years reading excerpts from the Bible, and reading or listening to others' interpretations of the Bible.  I am now 33 years old.  The time for the non-sense of a lack of spiritual maturity to study on my own needs to be over, dang it!! 

If you are my friend and you are reading this (and you are a Christian-- I realize many of my friends are non-Christians and may be reading this too--- please hold me accountable to this).  It's sad that I have to ask, but, seriously, hold me accountable to this wish of mine.  While it is crucial to have spiritual leaders in my life, it is equally crucial to be spiritually mature on my own.  No more pacifiers or learning permits for me.  It's about time to be a spiritual grown up, and be real in my faith and my walk with God.